Casing elevator



May 3, 1932. -1E.l1oFFoss cAsING ELEVATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. E. HOFFOSS CAS ING ELEVATOR May 3, 1932.

Filed Dec. 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May' 3, 1932 aire arras rarest erstes JOHN E.'v HOFFOSS, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO W-K-M COMPANY, INC., OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION 0F TEXiS CASIN G ELEVTOR Application filed December 5, 1930. Serial No. 506,203.

This invention relates to casing elevators. rllhe Velevator of the present invention is designed primarily for use in the handling oi drill stems or pipes for well holes, which are w, usually removed in four sections at a time,

or what is known in the lield as fourbles.

ln the operation of either withdrawing or flowering the drill pipe into the hole, it is essential that this work be performed as speedily as possible, since of necessity the drilling operation mustbe suspended while the pipe is being raised or lowered. This raising and lowering of the pipe is a hazardous operation, which must'be performed with fthe least amount of manual exertion, since the operator must work from an elevated position some eighty feet above the ground, and grasp the upper end oi the pipe from his position on the fourble board7 and swing the end of the pipe in position to lean against the fourble board while the lower end of the 'Sil Y' lThe elevator of the present invention is designed primarily to meet the conditions stated', and to afford easy and convenient means of unlatching and thereafter opening theelevator by the continued movement of one of the handles in the same direction, with adequate provision for the automatic latching Vof the sections of the elevator when f brought into closing position.

` Further objects and details of the invention will appear from the description thereof Vin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein,-

Figure l is a plan view of the elevator in y closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the sections ofthe elevator in open position;

Fig. v3 is a cross sectional elevation, taken on line 3 3 of F ig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the elevator; l n

Figv 5 is a detail showing a modified arrangement ofthe latch and handle; and

Fig. is a detail showing a second modification of the latch and handle.

Tie elevator, as shown, consists of vtwo halves or sections l0 and ll respectively, each of f; lindrical :format-ion, although the latch i ch more particularly forms the subject er of the present invention might be applied to a structure divided into three sections, as is sometimes customary inthe art to which the present invention relates.

T he two half cylindrical sections are hinged together on a pintle l2, and when closed the inner faces 13 are configured to define a truly cylindrical opening through which the casing pipe or tube or other rodlilre structure is entered in position to bring its collar, shown in dotted linesy in Ll, into Contact with the upper :face or rim of the elevator.

The two halves or sections of' the elevator are provided with diametrically opposed upper suspending arms let- 1.4 and lower arms l5-l5 which define openings lli-16 for the rece )tion of the links constituting the bail from which the elevator is suspended in the usual manner. Each or" the upper arms is curvedly coniigured on its lower "face 17 to afford a semi-circular undercut 0r hook-like arrangement which iswell fitted to engage with the associated linl; of the bail.` The opening between the upper and lower arms i on each side guarded by means of a vertically disposed pin 18 provided with an enlarged head i9 litt within a vertical bore 2O and held in place by means of a cross pin or hey 2l, or bythe use of lilo? ,n 1 A' i c Yonor en(L o t ie pin is soc rete in a re 'cess in the upper Ylace of the lower arm.

@ne ci` the halves or sections of the elevator is provided n ar its free or unhinged edge with a fixed handle 23 which co-operates with a pivoted handle 24. on the other section in the manipulation ci the device.

Each of the handles, when the parts are in closed relation, extends curvedly outward,

an ordinaryV nail.

and the two handles stand in curvedly divergl ing relation to one another. Each of the lian-` dles is of U-shaped formation, which permits ready access for the iingers ofthe hand and enables the handles to be easily grasped inthe palms of the hands to afford a rm and secure grip around the handles.v

The-hired or rigid handle 23 merges at its base directly into the wall of the elevator section ll,but the pivoted handle is diilerently ormedfto `control 'the operation of a Ylatch, member 25. rIhe pivotedv handle is-'similar in its outward ormation'to the rigid handle, A but is pivot/ed at its base upon a pin or pin'tle" 26 entered through Vears or lugs 27j-27 outstandinor from the wall othe elevator sec.-

iti-ori 1,0 in position to Ybe closely embraced by the side arms of the handle at theoase f thereo-th' The handle is closed at its Vbase and 'lre formation by the provrI sion ofv across bridge 28- wh'ieh rests vbeneath the-latch member 25,'whic'h is also pivo'ted upon the p intlefand liesbetween the ears .forluvgs 2T. The latch member is 'of open loopv shaped ,ormatijom being cut away in its ce1i ter 'to V,afford agrectangular aperture 29 for the receptiono-,a keeper 30, which is beveled or -roiindedon 'its forward face 3l to permit .,the-latchtofcain oyer said'face and there- `aterto permitfthe engaging face 32' of the ,The "keeper stands outwardly from a `tongue-.like portion 3ft-of the section ll, which when 'the two sections'a're in closed relation lieS;bBtweeI1-, and isembraced bythe forwardly projecting' sides 35 of the section l0;

#ofthe :section l() `-at a'point slightly distant fr omythe pin or pintle 26. The latch is northat fis =to say,rthe closingjoif the sections causes the two engaging free edges to interlit v y' with one another 'and at the Q40 heldin abutting' contact with the cross y.biv-'idgefQ by the action of a coil spring 37.- 50;'

Whicheneircles the pintlef within the latch aperture and with the terminus et' the nung in overlying relation to the side of Athe latch-esofthat it will eXerta' s erin@ tension A hereon, tending toV hold the free end ot the .I atchffinwardly, but'permi rtlie'latch to Vyield-againstthe spring tension and camover the-keeper, without, however, impart-ingl movement to the pivoted handle. In short,

whiletlie latchV and handlev are so related that 'theywill move in'unis'on during a latch opening movenienhthe latch aiordediindependenceof'outward swinging' merchant on Athe -pi-ntle during'the latching; operatiefLe 'In'order'zto urtherlocli the sectionsltoy Y lefl'ect ofliftingthe'lateh,fthereafter, by i.;

get'lier,*whenfiii use, against a -cidental dispin when Vlowered enters a 'Socket ei'iormed in the tongueof the section 11 in position to e 'f sidewith aflug "latch .t0 enagewiththeabrupt faee 0f the y l keeper. y f ,A

durino the latch;oper'atiornintheV manner reiaeae placement, a locking pin 39 is provided, having` an enlarged head 40; The locking pin operates in a recess il in the upper side of the extension 35, and is ai'forded a. limited sliding movement by the provision of aV slot 42 through the pin, through rwhich slot is entei-ed a stop 45 whicliliinits the upward projection of the head of the pin und-er they thrust of a sprino' dal. v I rEhe lowereiid of the'locliing register with the locking'pin when the elevator is'closed. Y

.The head of thepin will normally project iap rvardly in position 'to beengaged by the ofthe 'casing pipe or tiibebeingeleted, and wheiithus engagedl will be depressedY in position to bring the lower oriinner end of the pin into interlocking relation with thesoclret .li,'so that, so longas 'the elevator is suspending the weight of. the tube, the parte willbe locherl together bythe pin in addition to being' latched in Y'the-manner previously described. y v Y,

ln F 5 isrshown a modification of the atcli and handle arrangement, in which, in piace oi' the cross bridge28 previously described, the handle isprovid-e'don vits rear Lltgwhich engages a -tail piece waidly extending from the latch, the i of the paitsbeingsuch that as the handle,k is movedbachwardly, thenengaging end oi the latch will be lifted, whileat the same time the latch itself may hare independence of movement against-spring tension ferrea-to in coiiiiection with the mechanism nrst described.,` )ln Fig. 6 is shown a second .n'ioditlcatio-n,v Vin which the cross bridge 28a ofthe liandleis soflocatediasto operate within anv elongated. slot28 inthe latohfinstead oi operatingbeneaththe latch as in the construc-tiony i'irst described. The. slotpermits f the vlatch to move freely lin -latching'butrat the Sametime permits l:the latch to be lifted by a increment ofthieiliandle. v v

ln use,swith;t hesections open or swung apart, theelevator may be easily brought into positionV to encircle and embrace afpipefiminediately below the collar, and when inpropi erposition the sectionswill be closed'by the handles ,and the latch will automatically sli p over and engage the keeper without impartanymovement toftlie pivoted handle.`

, 'lfhe latching of the parts. togetherv will lbringgithelocking pin into register with the loch-ing socket, sothat, as soon Yas the elevator' *.fbeggins `'to littfagainstjthe pipe collar,Vv the lockingpin' will be forced into position and yheld so long as the pipe4 is beingsuspended.

When it is desired toy openlanddisengage rfthe elevator'rQm-thepipe, the operatorwill merely swing the pivoted'handlebya continuous inoyement, whicli.,fwill 'irstfhavethe Icontinued movement, will swing open the section 10, the

section l1 being meanwhile y held against movement by the fixed handle on that section. This obviates any necessity for separate manipulation of the latch by the Y thumb or fingers oi the operator, which is a diicult and dangerous operation and has resulted in frequent accidents and mutilations that it may due to the diiiculty of controlling the heavy pipe and tackle from the elevated position on the ourble board, upon which the operator must stand whilethe lated. At the same vlatch by than yielding relation to the handle.

The device as a whole is simple and rugged in construction, and so conveniently arranged be operated safely and expeditiously under conditions which render extensive manipulation of the-parts difficult and dangerous.

Although theinvention has been described asa casing elevator, it is not the intention to limit it strictly to such use, since it might be associated with tongs or like appliances intended for the lifting and manipulation of pipes, rods or tubes, without modiiication of the means provided for latching and unlatching the appliances.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of members pivotally connected, one of the members being provided with a keeper and the other member being provided with a latch adapted to engage the keeper when closed, and a handle f associated with the latch, the latch and handle being both `pivotally mounted and operating in unison on the opening movement of the latch, and the latch having independent movement in closing andengaging the keeper.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of members pivotally connected. one of the members being provided with a keeper and the other member being provided with a latch adapted to engagethe keeper when closed, and a handle associated with the latch, the latch and handle being both pivotally mounted to move on the same pivotal center, the handle positively engaging the latch to eiiect a positive movement of the latch by the swinging of the handle in opening, and the latch being capable of movement independent of the handle in closing and engaging the keeper.

3.'In a device of the class described, the

combination of a plurality of members pivotally connected, one of the members being provided with a keeper and the other member being provided with a latch adapted toengage the keeper when closed, and a handle associated with the latch carrying member,

the latch and handle being both pivotally :i

mountedto move on the same pivotal center, the handle positively engaging the latch on its inner side to eiieet a positive movement of the iatch by the swinging of the handle in opening, and the latch being capable of movement independent of the handle in closing and engaging the keeper. f

4. In a device of the class described, t-he combination of a plurality of members pivotally connected, one of the members being provided with a keeper and the other member being provided with a latch adapted to engage the keeper when closed, a handle associated with the latch carrying member, the

latch and handle being both pivotally mount-` L;

ed to move on the same pivotal center, the handle positively engaging the latch to eiiect a positive movement of the latch by the swinging of the handlein opening, and the latch being capable of movement independent of the handle in closing and engaging the keeper, and a spring acting upon the latch and normally holding the engaging end oi the latch inwardly and adapted to yield during the latching operat-ion.

5. In a device 0i the class described, the combination of a plurality of members pivotally connected, one of the members being provided with a keeper and the other member eing provided with a latch adapted to en i.:

gage the keeper when closed, a handle associated with the latch carrying member, the latch and handle being both pivotally mounted to move on the saine pivotal center, the

handle positively engaging the latch on its 3linner side to eii'ect a positive movement of the latch by the swinging' of the handle in opening, and the latch being capable of movement independent of the handle in closing and engaging the-keeper, and a spring acting upon the latchv and normally holding the engaging end of the latch inwardly and adapted to yield during the latching operation. l

6. In a device of the class described, the combination oi a plurality of members 'pivotally connected, one of the members being provided with a keeper and the other member being provided with a latch adapted to engage the keeper when closed, the first of said f members being provided witha fixed handle and the second of said members being provided witha pivoted handle mounted upon a pivot for the latch, both of the handles being of U-shaped formation, andthe pivoted I 'fee :.handle; being =provideclwitli a: cross1briclgeface, a fiXed- U-shaped: handle outstanding underlyingft'he latch in position yto swing ,theV ,from-@the member Which, carries thekeeper, a l'.latohwith theopening movement, of-V the yhan- Ufshapedz handleimountedion a .pivot pincare idle-and aaspringlbearin'g upon th'edatchland, ried by. the. .other,member,v aloop. ,s hap,ed 5 `adftptedrnorinally-tol hold the ;latehf.ineon-, ;glatchg mounted. -1iponfthe Samenpivot pin;,in 79 '1tactfvviththefcressYbridgeT and adapted to termediatethe anmsijofithelrhandle,rafcross fyieldftofpermitithe. latch to yride* overland bridge connecting/the innerends'ofytheiarms engage the; keeperfwithouti imparting:moveefcnthe'pivoted handle aild;,un derlyingthe :fl-mentitozthe'associated handle.l f :latch and-adapted to lift the'latch WheILthe wilfe'wln aflevicenof' the; clase described, the .1.handleis swung backvvardly,- andv a spring 75 v uacombination ci tvvohalf cylindricalsectionsfencircling the pivot Lpin and bearing .upon :.ia'ihinged together 1 `vand.y .adapted when closed V:the latch :and adapted normally to hold [the i; toiaorda cylindrical opening ,for the recep-,wlatch intocontactwitli the cross bridge and 'iitionrof a pipecaeing ,orthelike,'the-freel adapte/Cl tfyeldftO- permit the, latch Olde i igends'ffofrthesections :being configured. to inover and,engagetheleepervvithout impart 80 e-iterfitfwhenthe sections arein; closed relation, ing movement toy thepivoted handle.`

one oi the sections. being providedwith -an V10-. [n, afdeviceivofl theclass described, the fggroutstanding beveled; keepcimand. the other-cembir J- fionof aplurality o1?,members:pi-votv,isectionfsbeingprovidedwith a loop-shaped .ally connected, one: ofthemembers-.being 'zofilatchaadaptedzto ride-"overt and,k engage :the provided-ijvith -agleeper yand theother mem-SJ Vakeeper, a-f-pvotwpin V carried by the section/ber beingprovided with a ,latch .adapted to -Whichfcarriesthe latch andnpon which the lengage thekeeperwhen closed, and arhan- 4-latch'ispivotedgand a'U-shaped handlehavdie, associated;Withfthe latcli,g ,thelatch `and fing/its; arme embracing Jdie .pi'voted end of thev hai'idle being both pivotllly mounted l011v the `latch Landmounted uponrsaid pivotfpin,V said same-member, and' thehandle ypositively en, 93 V,l-,zhandlehaving az member engaging, said latch vgagging the latch to effect .2, pOStiYe movement lsand.I adapted, to lifftgthe latch Whjenthe-handie er" the'lecl by the' swinging movement ofthe is swung; =backvvardly,;and agspringi for nor- A handleingopening, andthe latch. being capa- .,imally ,holding the.latch.. andhandle in `en- .ble efrmevement independent ofthe handle 30.,gagingfvrelatiomand adapted to yield to per inclosing and engaging the Vkeeper. y ,9J emitindependentlatching'movement as the Vn-Witness that Iclaimthe, foregoing I v::latch/.ridespover;andiengages,fthefkeeper- ,y have hereunto subscribed my namethis .28th 8. ln, device-'iof-V-.the'class'describedg thedayoit-November, 1930. :combination,oftwo-half cylindrical sections f 1 JOHNEpHQEFOSS. l 35 hinged togethergand'fadapted Whenclosed 2E v ito.aflordacylindricalopeningjfor the recep v tion of, pi}; er,casi,ngl o'rj the like, the Yfreeends, Y f lofi thejsectionsfbeing .congured to intert whenthesectionsfarefinclosed relationone 1 notthe.sectionsbeing,provided',Withyganfout-l Y Y A 105 y.standing,beveled keeper: andy the Aother, section'being provided Withga-loopi-shaped latch `v f'adaptedto rideV over and engage 1 the keeper, anpivotV pinncarriedgby ,the section which 45;:carr1es theglatch ',andznpon 'Whichfthe latch is f v v f.;piv oted,.,;andayu-'shaped handle having its 1 y ,1.x armsfembracing the .pivotedet end of .the latch and mounted ,uponfsaidfY pivot pin-,said 4han- Apelle haVfi-ngacrossfbridge connectingthe arms Y Offo thehandleland,underlyingzthe-latch and- Y .y v dadaptedtoliftthelatch when the handle is i 1 ,fmoved--zbackwardly,v andra springbearing y -againsttheflateh ,ands adaptedltonormally i hold thelatch in engagement with thecrossy @5; rbridgejfand adapted to; permit independent ,-g'yieldingzof thelatchy as the same rides-over ,mandarin-gages the keeper. Y f Y 9 .f;1n a devices: oiwthe-Iclass, described, the' Y ecombination ,of two half cylindricalmem-w-j Y Y Y Y he'rs; 1pivote'dtoge'ther,and adapted -When v j f 12v` vLfclosedtofembrace,acaeingpipe orthe like, f, v v i E:theifreeendsofthe members being coniignred. to; iriteriit,A when,closeclrY and one QoEz-the memf bers,being:provided1with,ani:outstanding. y K l g,keepernhavingvan.;easy aceand vanabrupt Y i y' l f 

